Re: Low cost PCB layout software

From: Ralph Malph (noone_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 12/27/03 

Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 11:47:20 -0500

Ralph Malph wrote:
>
> Clearly I need something that actually works, so most of the truely free
> packages are not viable.

Well, I have read all the replies and have looked at most, if not all of
the recommended systems. Unfortunately I have not found any of them to
be workable (or at least easily used).

The Eagle software from CadSoft seemed like it had the most promise, but
I tried to download the older version 4.09 as someone recommended and
could not get either release to install. Both complain of bad files
even though I downloaded them twice. I then tried to download 4.11 and
can't seem to connect to the server.

So at this point I am still looking. The Protel Autotrax software is
very much a DOS package complete with a memory manager which did not
seem to initialize correctly under Win2k. So I don't think it is worth
trying to get it to work with a modern OS. Other packages installed ok,
but are very limited including providing nearly no parts library. If
they are going to limit the number of layers and pins, why don't they at
least include a moderately complete library? My idea was to do a
simple, small project to evaluate the tool. But with all the work
required to learn how to create my own device footprints, it is not
worth it.

I find it expecially odd when they don't provide a file save
capability. If you can't do *any* useful work with their eval package,
just how much time do they expect you to spend with it?

Eagle Cadsoft Can't download or install
Autotrax Protel DOS based memory management
Easytrax Protel Poor UI
EasyPC Numberone Demo has no save or plot functionality
Cadstar Zuken Not simple
RangerXL Seetrax Still haven't gotten a password file (not sure
if it is time limited or not)

I'll keep trying to download one of the Eagle versions. But otherwise I
have found all of these demo programs to be lacking for my needs.

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